Caregiving Activities Research Articles

Maternal time investment in caregiving activities to promote early childhood development: evidence from rural India.

Intervention strategies that seek to improve early childhood development outcomes are often targeted at the primary caregivers of children, usually mothers. The interventions require mothers to assimilate new information and then act upon it by allocating sufficient physical resources and time to adopt and perform development promoting behaviours. However, women face many competing demands on their resources and time, returning to familiar habits and behaviours. In this study, we explore mothers' allocation of time for caregiving activities for children under the age of 2, nested within a cluster randomised controlled trial of a nutrition and care for development intervention in rural Haryana, India. We collected quantitative maternal time use data at two time points in rural Haryana, India, using a bespoke survey instrument. Data were collected from 704 mothers when their child was 12 months old, and 603 mothers when their child was 18 months old. We tested for significant differences in time spent by mothers on different activities when children are 12 months of age vs. 18 months of age between arms as well as over time, using linear regression. As these data were collected within a randomised controlled trial, we adjusted for clusters using random effects when testing for significant differences between the two time points. At both time points, no statistically significant difference in maternal time use was found between arms. On average, mothers spent most of their waking time on household chores (over 6 h and 30 min) at both time points. When children were aged 12 months, approximately three and a half hours were spent on childcare activities for children under the age of 2 years. When children were 18 months old, mothers spent more time on income generating activities (30 min) than when the children were 12 years old, and on leisure (approximately 4 h and 30 min). When children were 18 months old, less time was spent on feeding/breastfeeding children (30 min less) and playing with children (15 min). However, mothers spent more time talking or reading to children at 18 months than at 12 months. We find that within a relatively short period of time in early childhood, maternal (or caregiver) time use can change, with time allocation being diverted away from childcare activities to others. This suggests that changing maternal time allocation in resource poor households may be quite challenging, and not allow the uptake of new and/or optimal behaviours.

Designing and Evaluating IT Applications for Informal Caregivers: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

A growing number of informal caregivers in many countries are important for effective functioning of health care in our society. Hence, they must receive the required support and services to continue providing care. IT applications can be used to support informal caregivers in their caregiving activities. However, evidence-informed guidelines for developing such IT applications and their evaluation are scarce. Hence, this scoping review can aid researchers and designers by providing design recommendations for IT apps for caregivers and potentially improve the design of IT applications for caregivers to meet their needs better. This study aims to describe the proposal for a scoping review of current practices and recommendations in designing and evaluating IT applications for informal caregivers. The scoping review will also discuss the opportunities and challenges in designing these IT applications. We will use a 5-step scoping review methodology to map relevant literature published as follows: (1) identify the research question, (2) identify relevant studies, (3) select relevant studies for review, (4) chart the data from selected literature, and (5) summarize and report results. A structured search will be conducted in PubMed, Scopus, IEEE digital library, Web of Science, and ACM Digital Library databases. In addition, hand searches of reference lists and keyword searches in Google Scholar will also be conducted. Inclusion criteria will be researched (journal and conference) articles focused on IT applications designed for use by informal caregivers and study type to be qualitative studies. Two reviewers will independently identify articles for review and extract data. Conflicts will be discussed, and a third reviewer will be consulted if a consensus cannot be reached. These data will be analyzed using thematic analysis. The results from this scoping review will be presented in a narrative form, and additional data on study characteristics will be presented in diagrams or tabular format. Uppsala University first initiated this scoping review protocol in December 2021 as part of the European Union-funded project ENTWINE. This work was also supported by the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish Cancer Society. The results will be presented in August 2023 and will be disseminated through a report to the European Union and a peer-reviewed journal publication. In addition, the team plans to share its findings on various public platforms, including social media, blog posts, and relevant conferences and workshops. This is, to our knowledge, the first study to map the literature on the design and evaluation of IT applications for informal caregivers. The scoping review's results will detail the requirements, design suggestions, and user preferences, as well as the usability criteria and features of IT applications for informal caregivers. A mapping of studies could inform the design and implementation of future IT applications for informal caregivers. DERR1-10.2196/47650.

Impact of caregiver demands on growing family capabilities provide home care for dementia-affected seniors.

The elderly with dementia occur cognitive decline and they are considered normal by the family, and then causing the need for care from elderly. This is not following the ability of home care by the family as an informal caregiver for the elderly with dementia. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of caregiver demands on the ability of families to do home care for elderly dementia. An analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design. The sample size is 100 respondents with a cluster random sampling technique. Data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed using SEM-PLS. Caregiver demands have a direct effect on increasing the family's ability to do home care for elderly dementia with a p-value = 0.011 (p ≤ 0.05), t statistic value of 2.557 (≥1.96). Caregiver demands have four indicators, including care receiver impairment, caregiving activities, competency of caregivers, and caregiver/family relationship with elderly dementia. The condition of the elderly who experience various changes supports the increasing need for care to receive care and recovery as well as special attention from the family. The higher the need for care, the higher the family's ability to do home care. This research implies that the family has a duty in the health sector to provide care for the elderly at home/home care, which strengthens the need for care, this supports caregiver empowerment and increases the independence of the elderly with dementia.

Positive psychology interventions for family caregivers coping with cancer: Who will use them?

Positive psychology-based (PPB) activities have been under-researched in cancer caregiving. This study investigated caregiver: (1) attitudes toward using PPB activities while caregiving; and (2) characteristics associated with these attitudes. Secondary analyses of a cross-sectional survey were conducted in a national caregiver sample of hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients. Survey items assessed caregivers' likelihood of engaging in six PPB activities. Hierarchical regression was performed and potential predictors of PPB activity use (e.g., technology familiarity, coping style, caregiving duration) were examined. Most of the N = 948 respondents were White (78.9%), female (65.5%), married (86.7%), employed (78.4%), and college-educated (79.8%). Caregivers favorably disposed to positive activities were younger and female, provided care for 6-12months and >40h/week, and used coping styles involving religion and social support. Our findings provide guidance for development and testing of PPB activities for cancer caregivers.

Development and Validation of the Lewy Body Disease Caregiver Activities Scale.

Background and Purpose: Caring for someone with Lewy body disease (LBD) is difficult. This study describes the development and validity testing of the LBD Caregiver Activities Scale (LBD-CAS). Methods: Caregiver interviews informed the development of the LBD-CAS. Experts estimated the content validity of items (I-CVI) and provided feedback about the scale. Family caregivers evaluated items for face validity. Results: Expert I-CVI ratings yielded 49 items with scores of 0.83 or higher. Four items with I-CVI scores <.83 were retained due to conceptual significance. The overall scale CVI was 0.86. Items evaluated by caregivers for face validity showed excellent variability in responses, with no major ceiling or floor effects. Conclusions: LBD-CAS showed evidence of content and face validity for the assessment of activities performed by LBD caregivers. Further psychometric testing is recommended.

Association between Hematopoietic Function and Physical Activity in Caregivers

Background: Caregiver sense of physical and mental burden differs depending on their health and psychological state. Given that they may be in poor health due to long hours of caregiving and nighttime care, they are expected to be under undue stress. Although anemia may influence the sense of fatigue among elderly caregivers, no study has assessed the relationship between their hematopoietic state and amount of physical activity. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between anemia-related parameters that reflect hematopoietic function and amount of physical activity in caregivers.

Recruitment, retention, and adherence of family caregivers: Lessons from a multisite trial.

To describe the recruitment, retention of family caregivers, and adherence to a telephone based intervention evaluated in a multi-site trial and provide recommendations for the design of future studies. A descriptive study based on a secondary analysis of a multi-site clinical development in Colombia and Brazil. Recruitment was measured by the number of participants eligible and consented. Retention was assessed by the percentage of participants with outcomes data at two follow-ups. The intervention adherence was measured by the percentage of the caregiver who received the intervention. Of the family caregivers assessed, 63% were eligible, and 32.9% declined to be in the study for time restriction or no interest. In Colombia, the total retention rate of caregivers was 63.4% at the first follow-up and 48% at the second follow-up, while in Brazil was de 52.8% and 46.2%, respectively. At the end of the study, the sample comprised 28 and 70 caregivers in the intervention and control groups, respectively, for a retention rate of 47%. Of 104 family caregivers allocated to the intervention group, 42 (40.3%) received five sessions. Most reported not completing the Caregiver's Activity Diary. The recruitment of family caregivers, participant retention, and adherence to the telephone intervention was unsuccessful. Future studies should apply an assessment tool during the recruitment of family caregivers and replace the term "caregiver" with "care provider" in the material involved in the research; define a retention protocol before starting the study and involve family caregivers in the design of the interventions.

Caring From a Distance: Experiences of Polish Immigrants in the United States Providing Care to Parents With Dementia Overseas.

Aging populations and an increasing number of immigrants in recent years have led to numerous changes in intergenerational relationships. Although many studies have investigated the impact of providing care to a parent with dementia, little is known about the impact of caregiving activities provided from a distance, such as in the case of immigration, and over a long period of time to a person with dementia. Our understanding of how transnational caregiving for a person with dementia affects relationships is also limited. Using the Intergenerational Solidarity Theory as a theoretical framework, this paper examines the experiences of adult children and immigrant caregivers of a parent with dementia living in Poland. A qualitative, semistructured interview was conducted with 37 caregivers living in the United States while providing transnational care to a parent with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. The data analysis was based on the thematic analysis strategy. Four themes were identified: (1) filial obligations and solidarity, (2) caregivers' contradictory emotions regarding transnational care, (3) financial and emotional exhaustion, and (4) challenges of nursing home dilemmas. Transnational caregivers represent a unique group who face distinctive challenges related to competing demands and limited resources. This study contributes to a better understanding of their experiences whereas the findings highlight the importance of addressing the mental and physical well-being of immigrant caregivers of individuals with dementia and have important implications for health care professionals and immigration policies. Implications for future research were also identified.

The effect of family appraisal on caregiver burden in family caregiver of female cancer patients

The growing prevalent of female cancer malignancies and the cancer care transition from clinical-based into home-based care have resulted in the growing involvement of family caregiver (FCG) in cancer management. The caregiving activity may be appraised as positive or negative life aspect. Negative family appraisal may result in FCG burden. This study expected to examine the effect of FCG appraisal of cancer caregiving on their burden in community context. This cross-sectional study involved 60 FCG of female cancer patients in five communities of Surabaya. Population was all primary FCG of female cancer patients in Surabaya’s communities. Family appraisal and caregiver burden were measured by questionnaires of family appraisal of caregiving questionnaire for palliative care (FACQ-PC) and caregiver burden inventory (CBI) respectively. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistic and simple linear regression tests. Most respondents were spouses with very mature age (41-50 years old), high school graduated, and working with sufficient income. The majority appraised cancer caregiving activities positively (80.67±16.31) and reported low burden (32.02±12.23). FCG appraisal has a huge impact on their burden (p=0.000). It influences 20.7% variance of burden in this population (R2=0.207).

Experience of dementia care burden: An exploratory study from India

AbstractBackgroundIn India, dementia care is typically provided by family caregivers. Traditionally caregiving is undertaken by women family members, however, changing societal and family structures may mean more men become involved in caregiving roles. This study explores gender differences in experience of care burden for older adults.MethodA retrospective analysis was conducted to examine contextual factors contributing to care burden using case records of individuals visiting a non‐hospital based elder care organization in India. All had been administered Zarit Burden Interview – 22 (ZBI), Lawton Independent Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL) and Katz Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL). Mixed methods analysis was used to examine overall care burden across genders and factors contributing towards subjective experience of care burden.ResultData was examined from 60 family caregivers of older adults (M = 22; F = 38). Majority were carers for dementia and reported feeling the care recipient was dependent on them which was corroborated by findings of dependency on IADL (44%) and ADL (26%). Overall, caregivers experienced mild to moderate burden and ZBI scores did not differ significantly across genders t (48) = .70, p = .48&lt;0.05, however, they did not feel comfortable handing care to anyone else. Only 31% caregivers had support from paid attendants with families preferring to manage care themselves. Item analysis revealed subjective experience of care burden differed across genders. Women (42%) experienced feeling strained quite frequently / nearly always compared to men (18%). Although men reported that they experienced stress due to caregiving, item analysis revealed that majority of men in regard to their health (M = 50%, F = 0%) or social life (M = 41%, F = 29%) reported never being greatly impacted due to caregiving activities as compared to women.ConclusionFindings indicate although men and women family carers of dementia experience similar levels of care burden, women experience greater strain as compared to men. Findings from this study has implications for development of gender sensitive caregiver support modules.

Family Care for Dependent Older People at Home: A Comparative Study between Brazil and Colombia

Objective: To analyze the socio-demographic profile and caregiving situation of dependent older adults and their family caregivers in Brazil and Colombia. Method: This mixed comparative and exploratory study follows the comparative study stages proposed by Bereday, namely: Description, interpretation, juxtaposition, and comparison. A semi-structured interview was used. National and international ethical principles were followed in the study, with the ethics committee’s approval in each country. Results: A total of 250 participants were interviewed: 52 dependent older adults in Brazil and 56 in Colombia, along with 70 family caregivers in Brazil and 72 in Colombia. A total of 68.5 % of the elderly and 83.8 % of the caregivers were women. Twelve categories were created based on the participants’ statements, six in the dependent older people and six in the caregivers. Conclusion: Women and daughters were the primary family caregivers, and the Catholic religion was prevalent in both countries. Regarding the caregiving situation in both countries, it stands out that dependent older people and family caregivers feel the presence of a superior being assisting them in overcoming the challenges of caregiving activities.

Practice improvement: workshops for caregivers

The transmission of good practices is one of the missions of the mobile geriatric outreach teams (EMGE). In this context, the EMGE Centre-Nord 92 has proposed two activities for caregivers in residential care facilities for the dependent elderly (Ehpad) in a concrete and participatory form, called "workshop". The purpose of the workshop on handling hearing aids is to help caregivers handle these technologies used to correct hearing loss in the elderly. The etymology-card game workshop is designed to help caregivers review and use medical vocabulary.

Physical Activity and its Associated Factors among Pregnant Sudanese Women in Eastern Sudan

Background: Moderate physical activity (PA) during pregnancy (&gt; 150 min/week) is beneficial to mothers and their growing fetuses. There are no published data on PA during pregnancy in Sudan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the level of PA among pregnant Sudanese women and to determine its associated factors. Sociodemographic and obstetric variables were gathered through a questionnaire, and PA was assessed by the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ). The scores were compiled, the participants were classified according to the intensity and type of PA, and logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: Five hundred women with a median (interquartile range) age of 27.0 (9.0) years were enrolled. The majority (88.4%) were housewives, more than half (53.6%) were overweight, and just over a quarter (25.8%) were obese. The sedentary activity was reported by 367 women (73.4%). The most energy (29.54 ± 9.62 metabolic equivalent task h/week; 83.75%) was spent during household and caregiving activities. While there was no association with age, parity, education, gestational age, and PA, overweight (adjusted odds ratios (AOR) = 2.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.27-4.45) and obesity (AOR = 3.07, 95% CI = 1.56-6.02) were associated with PA. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the majority of Sudanese pregnant women had a sedentary lifestyle. Most of the energy was spent during household and caregiving activities. Overweight and obese pregnant women were more likely to be physically active. Health education about the importance of prenatal PA is needed in Sudan.

Time Savings When Working from Home

We quantify the commute time savings associated with work from home, drawing on data for 27 countries. The average daily time savings when working from home are 72 minutes in our sample. We estimate that work from home saved about two hours per week per worker in 2021 and 2022, and that it will save about one hour per week per worker after the pandemic ends. Workers allocate 40 percent of their time savings to their jobs and about 11 percent to caregiving activities. People living with children allocate more of their time savings to caregiving.

Career or care? Academic youth facing the dilemma of caring for an elderly parent

Polish society is undoubtedly an aging society. Although old age and aging is a natural process affecting every living being, it also raises many questions and uncertainties. Such an element is certainly care. The main idea and goal of the research activities was to show the dilemma related to caregiving activities: career, self-realization of the individual or care for the parent? The research activities were conducted on a group of 28 students. The subjective perspective of the young individual was taken in the research. The results of the research reveal an interesting relationship that finds justification in the social formation of attitudes, upbringing (childhood) or family functioning. The dilemma, as well as the research itself, is a solid introduction to further work and analysis over the years.

Caregivers of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma: who provides care, what care do they provide and what burden do they experience?

There are limited data on the impact of caregiving for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) on the caregiver. We aimed to identify the demographic characteristics of these caregivers, the caregiving activities they perform and how caregiving burden impacts their work productivity and overall activity. This cross-sectional study collected data from caregivers of patients with MPM across France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom January-June 2019. Caregiver demographics, daily caregiving tasks and the impact of caregiving on physical health was collected via questionnaire. The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) was used to assess caregiver burden and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire (WPAI) assessed impairment at work and during daily activities. Analyses were descriptive. Overall, 291 caregivers provided data. Caregivers were mostly female (83%), living with the patient (82%) and their partner/spouse (71%). Caregivers provided over five hours of daily emotional/physical support to patients. ZBI scores indicated 74% of caregivers were at risk of developing depression. Employed caregivers had missed 12% of work in the past seven days, with considerable presenteeism (25%) and overall work impairment (33%) observed. Overall, the mean activity impairment was 40%. Caregivers provide essential care for those with MPM. We show caregiving for patients with MPM involves a range of burdensome tasks that impact caregivers' emotional health and work reflected in ZBI and WPAI scores. Innovations in the management of MPM must account for how caregivers may be impacted and can be supported to carry out this important role.

Heterogeneity in the mental health cost of caring for others

Drawing on the stress process, gender theory, and social roles theories, this study examines whether the associations between caregiving and mental health reflect the heterogeneity in caregiving experiences. It explores whether differences in care circumstances (location and intensity of care) and caregiver characteristics (gender and relation to care recipient) impact caregivers' health. While previous research has looked at these factors individually, this study uses longitudinal estimation methods to examine their combined associations with mental health. Using British data from the nationally representative panel survey Understanding Society (N = 366,907), fixed-effect models are used to assess the associations between the location and intensity of care, the caregiver's gender, and the relation to the care recipient and mental health. I report differences in mental health between non-caregivers and caregivers, as well as among caregivers across different care circumstances. While the results highlight the somewhat unique nature of each care circumstance and its relation to mental health, they uncover some general patterns. First, caregiving is a stressful social role. Second, care intensity is a crucial dimension of variation in the relationship between caregiving and mental health. Third, the location of care interacts with care relations only for less intensive caregivers. Fourth, there is a gradation in the negative association between caregiving activities and mental health by care relations. Finally, female caregivers are more susceptible to role overload and role captivity. When the care act is more expected and normative, such as when caring for a spouse, there is no difference by gender in mental health. Yet, differences by gender are evidenced when the intensive care act is less normative. This study unveils nuanced patterns in the joint and unique relations between care circumstances, caregiver characteristics, and mental health, and underscores the importance of effective care support especially for spousal and female parental caregivers.

Caregiver burden according to ageing and type of care activity in caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury.

To describe caregiver burden according to the caregivers' general characteristics, especially with ageing, and type of care activities provided by caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury. A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing a structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, health conditions, and caregiver burden. A single center study in Seoul, Korea. Participants were recruited from 87 individuals with spinal cord injuries and 87 caregivers. The Caregiver Burden Inventory was used to assess caregiver burden. Caregiver burden was significantly different by age (p = 0.001), relationship (p = 0.025), sleep hours (p = <0.001), underlying disease (p = 0.018), pain (p = <0.001), and daily activities of individuals with spinal cord injury (p = 0.001). Caregiver's age (B = 0.339, p = 0.049), sleep duration (B = -2.896, p = 0.012) and pain (B = 2.558, p < 0.001) predicted caregiver burden. Toileting assistance was the most challenging and time-consuming for caregivers, while patient transfer was associated with the greatest concerns for body injury. Caregiver education should be targeted according to caregiver's age and type of assistance. Social policies need to be developed to distribute devices and care-robots to reduce caregiver burden and thereby assist caregivers.

Parents’ Access to Flexible Work Arrangements and Time in Active Caregiving Activities

Greater access to flexible work arrangements is considered a solution to many working parents’ challenges balancing the demands of work and family, yet it remains unclear whether such arrangements are associated with parents’ time in the active caregiving activities linked to children’s development and parents’ notions of quality time. We examine this question using data from the American Time Use Survey and Leave and Job Flexibilities Module (2017–2018) ( n = 1,874 mothers, n = 1,756 fathers) and linear regression and inverse probability weighting techniques. Results indicate that access to flextime is associated with more active caregiving time for mothers but not fathers. They also provide suggestive evidence that flexplace is associated with more active caregiving time for mothers and fathers and strong evidence that it is associated with more passive caregiving time for both parents. The findings highlight the importance of expanding parents’ access to flexible work options, and the limits of doing so.

Informelle Pflege und Berufstätigkeit: Einflussfaktoren auf die Bereitschaft

IntroductionThe proportion of people in need of care will continue to rise in Germany. In 2019, the majority of people in need of care was cared for at home. Reconciling caregiving and work poses a heavy burden for many caregivers. Therefore, a monetary compensation for care is being discussed politically in order to facilitate the reconciliation of work and care. The aim of this study was to investigate whether and under which circumstances a sample of the German population is willing to care for a close relative. A particular focus was placed on the willingness to reduce working hours, the importance of the expected period of caregiving, and monetary compensation. MethodsA primary data collection was conducted in two modes using a questionnaire. A self-completion postal survey was sent out via the AOK Lower Saxony and complemented with an online survey. Data was analysed descriptively and using logistic regression. Results543 participants were included. 90% of the sample surveyed was willing to provide care for a close relative, with the majority stating that their willingness depended on various factors: both the health status and the person of the family member needing care had the greatest influence. 34% of the employed respondents were not willing to reduce their working hours, mostly for financial reasons. Discussion and conclusionMany older adults want to stay in their homes for as long as possible. Thus, the willingness to provide and take over the role of informal caregiver is and will remain a central pillar of the German care system. Negotiating between informal caregiving and professional activities often creates a substantial burden. For people from lower income households monetary compensation might enhance their willingness to provide informal care. However, in order to increase the willingness to engage in informal care of people from different backgrounds and life stages, flexible approaches are needed that go beyond monetary compensation.